President Donald Trump said Sunday he will meet with Janeese Lewis George, the Democratic nominee for mayor of the District of Columbia and presumptive winner, but will not let her enact her socialist policies in the nation’s capital.
Trump referred to her as a “communist,” saying he will not let Washington, D.C. be “destroyed by a Communist adherent who has no intention to” make the city great again amid the Trump administration’s efforts to beautify the city.
“Janeese Lewis George, the Communist who is almost certainly going to be elected Mayor of Washington, D.C.,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, “has stated that she wants to empty the prisons, make D.C. a Sanctuary City, oppose ICE, welcome Criminal Illegal Aliens back into our Beloved Capital, resist Anti-Crime Crackdowns, Defund the Police, continue and expand Cashless Bail, and so many other Capital destroying ‘things.’”
Lewis George is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, which made headlines last week when three candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won races in the city. Lewis George has drawn comparisons to Mamdani, given she’s a progressive reformer who advocates for direct government action to address housing costs.
“As mayor, I will work with anyone who makes D.C. safer,” Lewis George said to supporters Tuesday night after her centrist opponent, Kenyan McDuffie, conceded the race. “But I will also stand up to Trump.” McDuffie lost to George by a 54.1% to 35.2% margin in the primary, according to the Associated Press.
When asked about the prospect of Lewis George winning a few days ahead of the primary, Trump said “Maybe we take back Washington and run it on a federal basis” and “we won’t put up with it.”
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has shown a willingness to cooperate with the Trump administration on some of its initiatives in Washington, including last year’s deployment of the National Guard throughout the city.
INCOMING SOCIALIST DC MAYOR HAS A WEAK HAND AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
The Trump administration has undertaken a beautification campaign for many of Washington’s monuments and landmarks, including the still-unrepaired Reflecting Pool, the Columbus Circle fountain, and Meridian Hill Park. Trump also said in the post that Lewis George’s plans “will never work out” and that the “Beautification process has been second to none.”
With Democrats dominating local Washington politics, Lewis George is all but certain to become the nation’s capital’s next mayor, a victory that would make her Washington’s first socialist mayor. It is unclear whether Trump meant he would meet Lewis George before the Nov. 3 election or after she theoretically wins.
